Tunnel-drier.



D. HARRIS.

TUNNEL DMR.

y PPUCTOM FILED NOV. Il), \915 LZSQQ Patented Oct. 2), 1Mb

H/l TNESSES b INVEN T01? G` D. HARFHSA TUNNEL DHIER.

APPLICATION man Nov. xoA 1915.

wanted om. 29,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVEN TUI? Gordonlonjrris runners G. D. HARRIS.

TUNNEL DRIER.

APPLxcmoN mEn vNov. 1o. :915.

atented Off/t. Q9, 1918.

GORDON DON Iii JERSEY Application :Sled fievembei H2,

Be it known that L GQRDON DDN Hamm, a citizen of iiie- United Siaies. reeling ai. Bayonne7 Couiiy of Hudson, and ltae of v New Jersey, have iiiveiiiefi a cei'aiii new and as heat, with a moisture-coiiaiiiiiig meeiiai o1' substance fesaite in a more o1' lese giaduai. but none. die ieee pereeptibie, iedueion in the empeaureof Suc-ii iiijy'ing mec'iium. This condition is obsei'vabie iii oiciiiiaiy drying maciiiiiee, wiieieii die hea enters ai, a tempeiatuie. say' of 22 Faiiieiihei and is delivered at a empeiaiiie say o "i120 Fahrenheit, said condition of fiiyiig medium being diie io *die heat imparted to the, material during ne. evaporaing operation.

It. is appai'eni iiat initier ordinary' coaditions he circiiiation of a drying medium into repeae contacts with the Subsaaee or matei'iai may be eeiied on zo such an eitent 'ilia the drying medium iieeoiiiee saturated, more or less, vii-ih moisture evapmaiei from the. maeiiai Hatier 'lfi'eaimentg mit as sueh iiiefiiiiiii atiaiiis a certain degree of saturation iis ieiiipeiaiiire is i'efiueed, hence the efiicie'ae of *L'iie ciiciiiatiiig medium a means for early/ing moistiii'e is in'izgaii'ed both by the reduction of emperatiiie and by the degree oi Saturation "which it, aaiiis.

Heat "die ageii kiek-drying oi' evapoiaiiiig is aceozzipiisiiedl SafiS'iCS SiiOW- inte7 thai the ieee of heat peixciioic foot iequil-ed to evapoae one gi'aia of moisture ie equa] io S950 Fahrenheit. it is aie@ estabiished fhatfixe presence of tmospheiio ai of iseif` retards iiie drying operation, imi, air is empioyefi. inainiy, as a Carrier for bringing' fiie heat imiis into Conac. eiiiiei iiie appaiaiis so as to keep it in a sae io die iiioy Wheeied rai-s 'trui-ks. each of which is aerei in consii'uctiou for iiie reason that provision is marie i0? 'he Circulation of iie 2*- dx'yiiig' medium Niiiiiii said imei; and into comme?, either fiiieetiy or -imiireeijff7 with die iiiai'eiiai ioadeii'herein.

The boosters oy iieates aie.y posiioneci in the iop wail oi@ the icimnei, or iii iie iioi'om iiiei'eo, oi in boi-n iie iop Waii and the botom wail. in posiiioaiiig iiie Wiieeied CaS in operafive reieiio'a io iiie iioaieevs` 'the fines oi? Sai are in register Wiii Cei'iain Chambers Cim i taining iiie, iioosieie., ii'iieieiijyV provision is iziafie for drying medium te cicuiaie aioimfi iie iioosei's and ini@ eoutae with the ioazis' fiie cam.

or may be,

lGo the rections, the essential feature consisting in the circulation of the drying medium into contact alternately with ,the material and with the boosters, whereby the Contact of the vdrying medium with the boosters operates to restore to said drying medium the heat units which become'latent due to evaporation; in other words, the boosters restore heat to the drying medium in the intervals between its contacts (either directly or indirectly) with the moisture containing material so as to maintain said4 medium at a uniform temperature, or substantially so, or even to increase the temperature of said medium, as a result of which reheating operations the dryingmedium is conditioned for maximum eiiiciency with respect to its capacity for evaporating moisture from the materials.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation through a `tunnel `drier constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrating a number of movable carriers or cars positioned within the tunnel and in cooperative relation to the boosters or heaters, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 1`1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. plane of the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing a plurality of tunnels with the. complemental carriers orcars adapted to travel within said` tunnelsand to be positioned in operative relation-to' the boosters or heaters. i

Fig. 2' `is a verticalsectional ,elevation through another embodiment of tire invention .vvhci'ein the drying medium is adapted to circulate in vertical paths through the wheeled 'ears or carriers, and the-boosters on heaters. are positioned at bothfthe tcp 45A and hegbottom of the tunnel.

The drying apparatus shovim in'Figs. l and 2 of the drawings embodies one or a plurality of tunnels, or as they may be termed drying chambers, within which wheeled carriers or cars, are' 'adapted to travel for the purpose of conveying vthe material' or substance into and out of the tunnel or drying chamber, It is apparent thatthe apparatus may embody a single tunnel A, or a plurality of tunnels A, A', A2, but the' number of tunnels and the form .and dimensions thereofare not material to my invention, hence I reserve the right to employ a single tunnel or any desired number of tunnels, and to'give to said tunnels desired form and dimensions in both longitudinal and cross section. y

Each ltunnel is equipped. with rails formbottom portion thereof,

ing a track B in the l l upon which track vis adapted to 'travel the 2 isa horizontal section taken in the 'of the load carrier. l

One wall of the tunnel or drying chamber,

`booster containing It is preferred to employ wheeled carriers',

trucks, or cars, the cross sectional dimen-v sions of whichv are such as to substantially vfill the cross sectional dimensions of the tunnel or drying chamlber. Each wheeled carrier or car consists of a skeleton frame c covered by an impert'orate casing C comA posed of sheet met-al or its equivalent. It is preferred to sheath each truck or car with imperforate metal at the two endsl and along one side of said truck or car, but it is obvious that the imperforate sheathing C may-extend around the two sides and the ,"two ends of said wheeled car. It is apparent that the skeleton :trame c may be composed of .angle iron or other material suitable for the purpose, to which' trame the imperforate sheathing C be fastened by rivets, bolts,

or other preferred means Each wheeled car isequipped with vertical.

stanchions cl positioned parallel to the closed end portions of the car, said stanchions being at a suitable distance from said closed is adapted to ends so as to result in iues E, E at the.-

y car, said trays D being positioned intermediate the ii'iues E E at the respective ends of said car. By spacing the trays from each other certain horizontal lues are provided intermediate said trays, said horizontal fines being iig-,communication with the vertical iiues -E/E, and -thus the 'drying medium admittedl to one vertical Hue is divided into streams .which iow over andbeneath the with the masses of trays and into contact horizontal trays D or their:

By' reference to material thereon, the drying medi-um ioW- A ing from the spaces over and beneath the trays into the ,other vertical iiu'e. In this form of the apparatus the drying medium circulates in horizontal paths within the load carrier and it flows into direct and vertical ues providing means whereby the drying medium is preferably the top wall thereof, is formed or constructed to .produce a plurality of chambers AF,Lthe same beindirect contact with the material on the trays, the

.1'20 conducted into and out ing positioned intermediate the entrance to and the exit from said tunnel or chamber.

In Fig. 1 the apparatus is shown as having two booster chambers but thenuniber of such chambers will depend upon the capacity of the apparatus. s shown, eaoh booster chamber is an integral part of the tunnel structure. lout the details of construction may be modified as desired by a skilled constructor,

yWithin the booster chambers are positioned a plurality ofhoosters or heaters G, the saine beingshown as pipes connected with suitable headers whereby a heating medium is adapted to HOW into and out of the boosters. lt is apparent that any Weli known heating medium may he employed for circulation througlrthe boosters; oloviously, steam is the preferred heating inediuin, although hot air, Jfurnace gases, hoiler.

rooin gases, or even l'electrical energy may he utilized. I

Cooperating with each `booster is a deeotor El, the sarna consisting of a horizontal plate positioned intermediate the ends o the booster and prefeiahly at about the middle thereof, from' this horizontal' nlate weh ,7a extends upwardly toward'the booster. to partially divide the booster into compariments so that the drying? medium flowing out of one load carrier will he directed np- Wardly and into Contact with the coils of? the booster and thence the drying medium will he directed don'nwardiy into the next load carri whereby 'the drying medium iionii'ag ont of one load carrier 1e relieated l 1 oe hoest-er to a desired temperature hefore it i'iows into the next load carrier, as a Aesrrt or which the drying medium may oe lient at unirorm temperature, or its temperature may he increased as found desii-able in the operation o'treating the material under consideration.

l' designates a; iue'eonneeted to one end lThe @reflector or haie is :adapted4 .material loaded of the tunnel, and ll is another iiue connected to the opposite enclo2 said tunnel, f

Whereht7 a drying` medium is adapted to he admittedv by the flue l to one eno` of the tunnel and to its exit through the fine l from the opposite end 'of the tunnel, but intermediate the entrance and the exit of the drying medium it circulates through the closed load carriers and into contact with the boosters alternately, so that the heat lost 'from the drying medium by contact with said material, and by tie evaporation of moisture, Wiilhe restored to said drying medium hy the contact or the latter with the boosters, L

lt is apparent that the deiails o e nstruetion may be supplied and altered as desired by a. skilled constructor, lout in Fie. the entrance to and the exit from the tunnel are adapted to be closed oy s iiahle doors J durclosed in respective ends and upon one side hy the continuous sheathing C, but the other side of the load carrier should he open to allow orready access to the trays D, whereby said trays may be introduced and Withdrawn as required through said open side ofthe load carrier.- The cross sectional dimensions of the load carrier should conform substantially to the cross sectional dimensions of the tunnel, as shown in Fig. '2, so that a minimum amount o the drying niediuin will escape from the load. carriers through said open sides.

lifter the load carriers are loaded with the materialto oe treated, the door at one end is opened andthe load carriers are Inoved successively into the tunnel in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art; the adjacent load carriers being in abutting engagement at their 'closed ends. The load carriers positioned within the tunnel for the sheatl'iingD C on the adjacentearriers to register with the haide l, suoli relation of the ioad carriers to the bahia bringing the end i'iues on adjacent carsjnto register with the proper booster or heater. The doors to the tunnel having been closed and the heating medium supplied to the `boosters, the apparati-is is ready :tor service, whereupon `a suitahie for the treatment oi the particular "ion the load carriers, is adniited hy the nr l. The drying medium flows downwardly into the iiue E o: one load carrier, thence horizontally over the trag/'s thereof, and thence upwardly through the r'lue E of said load carrier. The drying medium cornes into contact with the iirst booster and over the H, so that additional hea; units are imparted to it oy its contact lilith said hoesten thence said medium is reversed and lon'sdownwardly into the iuel ci tne second load carrier, thence tiroughfflthe u'e E of said load carrier in an upward direction into contact With the second booster, and so on throughout 'the series of load carriers andooosters, the drying medium making its exit through thel lli/"hen the material of the load carlue l". riei's is suiciiciently dried, the circulation of the drying medium is cut ofi 'and the doors are opened, whereupon the cars are shoved out ot the tunnel and other cars are introduced into the tunnel, so that the operation of drying material may be carried on almost continuously. j

it is apparent that any desired number of tunnels equippedwith boosters as desired and adapted for cooperation with a series of load carriers may be employed substantially as indicated in Fig. 2, wherein a series or" three tunnels is s..own, v

Another embodiment of illustrated Fig. 3, wher arranged to ertical chaintinuous sheathing closed ends'thereof Aprovide vertical flues through `which the drying medium is adapted to circulate in vertical paths and so as to have indirect contact with the material under treatment. The tunnel K'is provided with an inlet flue 7c and an exit flue it. At the bottom of said tunnel is a succession of booster chambers L, and in a similar manner the top of the tunnel is formed with other booster chambers L. The bottom chambers contain heaters or boosters M, whereas the top chambers contain other heaters or boosters M. Each series of chambers is divided by imperforate partitions m, and, as shown, said chambers are equipped with baffles M2. The load carriers O are provided with vertically positioned chambers P adapted to contain the material to be treated. As shown, the chambers. are spaced to produce vertical lues Q within the load carrier, and this load carrier contains a skeleton frame partially or wholly enveloped by an imperforate con- C3 so as to produce a car with closed ends; 4 I

he cars are run -into the tunnel for the iles M2 and to bring the vertical luesof the car into register with the chambers containing-the boosters, the sheathing C3 of said cars extending substantially to the level of the track upon which the cars are run so as to -minimizethe escape and loss of the dryl ing medium. It is apparent that the drying vmedium admitted by the flue le circulates v throughout the series.

A tical chambers P so as of boosters for the downwardly through the flues Q of the first car, thence it flows into contact with the first booster land below the baiiie M2, thence it flows in an upward direction and through the flues of the second car, thence it ilows into contact with the coils of the first upwardly positioned booster and over baiile MZtherein, and thence downwardly through the ilues of the third car and so on The drying medium the walls of the verto have indirect contact With the material contained therein, but it -is reheated bycontact with the succession purpose of maintaining it at the desired temperature, or at an in creased' temperature, asl maybe found expedient or necessary in the treatment of the particular material loaded'in the cars. i

Having thus fully described the invention,

flows into contact with Haes-#adapted to register with said heaters to register with the bafthe Q or boosters whereby a drying medium is adapted for circulation through the tiues of said load carriers and into contact with saidY heaters or boosters.

' 2. A dryingA apparatus embodying -a chamber or tunnel provided with an inlet ity of load carriers movable Within the tunnel or chamber, each load-carrier being provided with material supporting means and with iues; through which is adapted to circulate the drying medium, means for circulating a drying medium back and forth through said chamber or tunnel and through the tiues of said load carrier, said back and forth circulation of the drying medium being intermediate the inlet and the eXit of said tunnel orchamber, and boosters or heaters positioned in the walls of the chamber or tunnel, 'intermediate said inlet and exit,'and exposed for Contact with the drying medium 'and an outlet for a drying medium, a pluralin the course ofthe back and forth circulagiving up its heat in exchange for moisture.A

drying apparatus embodying a` chamber or tunnel provided with an inlet and an exit for a drying medium, a plurality of load carriers movable within said chamber or tunnel, each load carrier having means for supporting the material under treatment, booster chambers in the walls 1of the tunnel or chamber and' in communication therewith, meanslfor circulating a drying. medium back and forth through the tunnel or chamber and through the booster -chambers and into contact with the materialupon the-load carriers, and boosters or heaters positioned within the boosterV chambers and operating to reheat the drying medium in the intervals between its contacts with' said material undertreatment, said load-carriers being provided with fines adapted to communicate with the booster chambers so that the reheated drying medium flowing out of said booster chambers is conducted into contact with the material upon said load carl riers.

- 4. A drying apparatus embodying a chamber or tunnel provided with an inlet and an exit for a drying medium, a plurality of load carriers movable within said 'cham-- ber or tunnel, each load-carrier vhaving means for supporting the material under. treatment, booster chambers 1n the walls of' the tunnel or chamber and 1n commumcation in the intervais between its contacts with said materia? nder treatment, each ioadcarrie1'-being dosed et die ends iieieo an@ Said load-carriers being prmied intermediate Suid Closed ends with fines adaped. to register with the booster chambers so im;

y the reheated drying medium iowing out of the booster chambers is adapted o Cite-nieto wit-hin the load carriers and imo Contact with the material thereon.

A drying appzuatus embodying a hember 01 tunnel, ioad-Cerries movafiie therein, means for cireuiating medium within he chamber and the 10mi carriers, und boosieis poSitione-d in the weils of the Chamber it poin's iii'teiii9{`iiaie the @14H-rance fo mici die exit fi'om che ehamier, each iozid-Cmziei being sheathed foy dosing the ends and at ieat one Side thereof, and Said load-carrier being provided wiiiin the Same 'with means for supporting the maieiai under treatment and with iues fol the .Within com@TL owners "mi embodying a .i chaiii'bei, eins movabio iieieiii, means 'for Cilcuieiug; u drying meoium s'viiiin saifi Cir" "my, und boosters posiiioueci s provided in die Weils. @zich load-Camiel being I 'the @nds and uji oiiet of seifi c "i, sheziiud one Side iizovided .f ing means ai ends H1193 e e iuee producen iioiizoziei zum" In .imony n scribed ,my uam 

